Patrick Bamford has rejoined Middlesbrough for £10million - and admitted he was wrong not to come back sooner.

The 23-year-old Chelsea forward scored 19 goals in 44 games for boss Aitor Karanka on loan as Boro failed to win promotion from the Championship two seasons ago.

The Teessiders wanted Bamford on a permanent deal then but he went back to his parent club after Boro lost the 2014-15 playoff final to Norwich, and ended up joining Premier League sides Crystal Palace and then Burnley on loan.

Bamford got Middlesbrough to Wembley last time but they were beaten by Norwich (Image: Getty)

Neither move, nor the loan to second-tier Norwich which separated them, was a success and Bamford feels he now has a “point to prove to Boro fans”.

He said: “Looking back in hindsight it seems like I made the wrong decision not to come back sooner.

“I am just excited to be back.

"I always said you never know what the future holds, now I can’t stop smiling. I know the chairman (Steve Gibson), the manager and the fans, who all stuck by me when times have been tough.